Bill Text: MI HB4661 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Public utilities; consumer services; requirement for providers to determine whether a customer is a senior citizen prior to shutoff; require. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 9l.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-04-02 - Referred To Committee On Energy Policy And Public Utilities [HB4661 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2009-HB4661-Engrossed.html

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HB-4661, As Passed House, March 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUBSTITUTE FOR

 

HOUSE BILL NO. 4661

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled

 

"An act to provide for the regulation and control of public and

certain private utilities and other services affected with a public

interest within this state; to provide for alternative energy

suppliers; to provide for licensing; to include municipally owned

utilities and other providers of energy under certain provisions of

this act; to create a public service commission and to prescribe

and define its powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public

utilities commission and to confer the powers and duties vested by

law on the public service commission; to provide for the

continuance, transfer, and completion of certain matters and

proceedings; to abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit

certain rate increases without notice and hearing; to qualify

residential energy conservation programs permitted under state law

for certain federal exemption; to create a fund; to provide for a

restructuring of the manner in which energy is provided in this

state; to encourage the utilization of resource recovery

facilities; to prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of

energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded costs; to

reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to provide appropriations; to

declare the effect and purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies

and penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,"

 

(MCL 460.1 to 460.11) by adding section 9l.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 9l. (1) A provider shall, in the ordinary course of

 

business, make ongoing efforts to identify senior citizen customers

 

by at least 1 of the following methods:

 

     (a) Conducting customer interviews.

 

     (b) Obtaining information from a consumer reporting agency or

 

consumer reporting service.

 

     (c) A personal or automated telephone call where direct

 

contact is made with a member of the customer's household or a

 

message is recorded on an answering machine or voice mail.

 

     (d) First-class mail.

 

     (e) A personal visit to the customer.

 

     (f) A written notice left at or on the customer's door.

 

     (g) A bill insert.

 

     (h) Any other method approved by the commission.

 

     (2) A provider shall comply with the requirements imposed in

 

subsection (1) by November 1, 2009. The commission may grant an

 

extension to a provider for compliance with subsection (1).

 

     (3) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Consumer reporting agency" means that term as defined in

 

section 603 of the fair credit reporting act, 15 USC 1681a.

 

     (b) "Provider" means an electric utility, cooperative electric

 

utility, or alternative electric supplier, or a natural gas utility

 

as defined in section 9.

 

     (c) "Senior citizen" means a provider customer who is 65 years

 

of age or older.